SIMS SQL upgrade. To Express or not to Express?

[woody]

Sorry for yet another SIMS SQL upgrade question, but

 

currently we are running MSDE 2000 like most other schools. With the pending upgrade to 2005, we have the option of going full blown SQL2005.

 

What if any benefits are there to diong this? I know that the max DB size on express is now 4GB. Our current Sims DB is just over 1GB. What's the chances of it growing beyond 4GB? And are there any speed / backup advantages to the full version that are worth the £1200 that it will cost us?

[Ric_]

I am no database guru but I would have thought that SQL 2005 Express would be sufficient if MSDE is working admirably.

 

If your DB does suddenly grow by a huge amount you can always export the database, uninstall Express, install a 'better' version and add the DB back in.

[defiance]

£1200 seems very expensive we have just been quoted about £140 plus Cals @ £13 each that is for standard version, but there is no reason for enterprise for a sims database, but enterprise would be about £1200

[meastaugh1]

Database size aside, I think there's a command line to determine whether SQL performance is being throttled by the performance limiter (in MSDE at least).

 

As for licensing, it will depend upon the number of processors you have in the server and the number of clients which will determine the most appropriate licensing model. Eg if you have 1 processor in the server and >50 clients, then per processor licensing will probably be more cost effective.

[woody]

Ramesys who we normally get our licensing from quote £199 for the server licensing and £13.50 per client. We would need around 80 CALS so that's where the price comes from (rounded down .

 

They don't have anything on their website about 'per processor' licenses, but I could have missed them. Our server has a single processor.

 

Anyway, I think I have come to the conclusion that as Ric says, I've never noticed any performance issues detrimental to the running of SIMS.

 

Our school closes in a few years to be amalgamated into an academy so probably not worth wasting the money on. Maybe the bursar will buy me a shiny new laptop instead??? (Yeah right!)

 

Think I will go express and I can always upgrade later

[vikpaw]

I'm getting a per processor licence from Ramesys.

It's costing £655 and i have two proc's so its £1310 in total.

I believe that is for the standard edition.

 

We considered CALs but we needed 70 + spares in addition to the 100 bought last year, so the difference was an extra few hundred to go for processor licence which makes sense as we get to leverage the extra processor power now.

 

Haven't heard back from Ramesys so better chase them up as installation is set for Monday in Term 1 holiday by the estimable Capita.ICT

)

Edited March 13, 2008 by vikpaw